Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The List

New England's top international development agencies

By Lynette F. Cornell

See the table of New England's international development agencies

Focus on global growth

While the international development agency won’t process your passport, it can help guide your company when expanding into an international market or from another country into the United States. The entry into a new market can be tricky, given such challenges as differing tax codes and immigration policies, so international development agencies such as UK Trade & Investment serve as guides for navigating the process.

“Any time you go into a new market, there are going to be nuances,” said David Hughson, vice-consul and trade and investment officer at UKTI‘s Boston area office.

Those nuances range from big issues like how healthcare reimbursements are processed to seemingly minor issues such as modifying the message in marketing materials to fit the new country’s language and culture. One of the big hurdles for these expanding companies is the language barrier, even in situations such between the UK and the US where language is the same but spellings can differ, said Hughson. Development agencies can point out those small things that might otherwise go overlooked but can have a big impact on the company’s success.

Another often overlooked challenge for companies going international is having to build a network of contacts in the new location. The development agencies work with companies to help them connect with the industry professionals in their new market. This is accomplished through hosting events, seminars and networking programs, said Hughson. They also help educate companies in areas of real estate, research and marketing strategies. “We aim to make the process smoother and quicker,” said Hughson.

In addition to providing advice and support during the international expansion process, international development agencies also serve as the companies’ voices in government, advocating for them in areas of regulation and legislation. They also help develop programs to encourage government interest in overseas markets, such as UKTI’s role in organizing Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s recent visit to the UK to discuss trade opportunities. 
 

New England's international development agencies
Organizations ranked by number of N.E. employees; ties ranked by number of N.E. companies working with.

Source: MHT Research.  Organizations that did not respond to survey requests are not included on this list.